Historic restoration, renovation, and new home construction in San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
When developer Telfair Stockton bought eighty acres of a former brickyard on the south bank of the St. Johns River in the 1920s, he envisioned something far different than the standard subdivisions that surrounded it. He had recently returned from a trip to Europe, and he named the new neighborhood’s commercial heart after the Piazza San Marco in Venice.
Shaped by the City Beautiful movement, San Marco was laid out with winding streets, planted medians, generous lots, and parks, and its lots sold in a speculative frenzy in the fall of 1925. The homes that followed never settled on a single style. What began as a Mediterranean Revival vision grew into a rich mix of Tudor, Colonial Revival, and bungalow architecture, with the grandest houses lining the river.
Today, San Marco is one of Jacksonville’s most established and walkable neighborhoods, anchored by San Marco Square and its riverfront streets. It rewards owners who respect what is already there. At M&M Homes, we restore and build here with the same care for character that made the neighborhood worth preserving in the first place.
AREA CONSIDERATIONS
Planning to build, renovate, or remodel a home in San Marco?
San Marco is part of the consolidated City of Jacksonville, so permitting, plan review, and inspections are handled by the city. Unlike Jacksonville’s Springfield and Riverside-Avondale historic districts, San Marco is not a locally designated historic district and is not on the National Register, so most homes here are not subject to the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) review that those districts require. That gives owners more flexibility.
Two things still matter. Individual San Marco homes can be designated local landmarks, which does trigger COA review, and much of the neighborhood sits in low-lying areas along the St. Johns River where flood-zone and elevation requirements apply. We confirm your property’s designation status, zoning, and flood zone at the start of every project so there are no surprises later.
QUICK FACTS
- Developed in the 1920s by Telfair Stockton, who had already built the upscale Avondale neighborhood across the river
- San Marco Square was named after the Piazza San Marco in Venice and modeled on a European plaza
- Laid out in the City Beautiful tradition, with winding streets, planted medians, parks, and larger lots rather than a standard grid
- The area was once the separate town of South Jacksonville, which grew rapidly after the St. Johns River (Acosta) Bridge opened in 1921
WHAT WE DO IN SAN MARCO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For most homes, no. San Marco is not a locally designated historic district and is not on the National Register, so unlike Springfield or Riverside-Avondale, there is no blanket Certificate of Appropriateness requirement for exterior changes. The exception is individual homes that have been designated local landmarks, which do require a Certificate of Appropriateness through the City of Jacksonville. We confirm your home’s status before we scope any exterior work.
San Marco is part of the consolidated City of Jacksonville, so permitting, plan review, and inspections are handled by the City of Jacksonville rather than a separate municipal government. We manage the submittals and coordination on your behalf.
It depends on where the home sits. San Marco includes low-lying areas along the St. Johns River, and parts of the neighborhood, including San Marco Square, have a documented history of flooding during heavy rain and high tides. Properties in FEMA flood zones are subject to elevation and flood-resistant construction requirements. We first check the flood zone and elevation for your specific property during planning, then design appropriately.
Yes, and it is some of our favorite work. San Marco’s homes span nearly a century, from 1920s Mediterranean Revival, Tudor, and Colonial Revival houses to later infill. Older homes often need structural and systems attention alongside cosmetic updates, and working within the original construction is something we are well-practiced at. We assess the full scope honestly before any work begins.
Yes. We build custom and semi-custom homes in San Marco for owners who want a home suited to riverfront and in-town living. Buildable lots are limited in an established neighborhood like this, so finding the right parcel is an important first step. We can advise on lot suitability, flood considerations, and how a new build will sit among its neighbors.
Timeline varies significantly by scope. A focused interior renovation might take six to twelve weeks. A full renovation or new construction project typically runs six months to over a year, depending on size, complexity, and permitting timelines through the City of Jacksonville. We develop a realistic schedule during the pre-construction phase and communicate proactively throughout the process.
In addition to San Marco, we work in Jacksonville’s other established historic neighborhoods, including Riverside, Avondale, and Springfield, as well as the beach communities of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra. Our full service area covers Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, and Clay counties.
